Notre Dame dedicates $2.5M in grant funding for downtown Holy Cross leadership center

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Holy Cross College announced on Wednesday that through a collaboration with the University of Notre Dame, they will be building a Center for Leadership and Professional Excellence in downtown South Bend.

The new center will be a part of a "tech and talent district" that will be partially funded by a $30 million grant that was awarded to Notre Dame from Lilly Endowment Inc. earlier this year.

Officials say Notre Dame will commit $2.5 million of that $30 million specifically for the new center that will be located inside the district. 

"The College has proven successful in recent years in developing the skills of professionals and others working in the areas of education, non-profit pursuits, and business," said Holy Cross Vice President for College Relations JudeAnne Hastings.

"Through the new center in South Bend, the College will expand its reach, providing college credit-earning credentialing programs for a wider variety of individuals – particularly high school students, tech-skilled workers, and formerly incarcerated individuals who are in the process of societal reentry."

The grant will partially fund the renovation of a historic downtown building as the centerpiece of the district, and both Notre Dame and Holy Cross staff will relocate to the district along with employees and researchers and entrepreneurs from private companies.

“I am beyond grateful for this opportunity to partner with the University of Notre Dame and the supported provided by Lilly Endowment to help the College create this Center for Leadership & Professional Excellence,” said Holy Cross College President Dr. Marco J. Clark. “Our partnership with the University will not only assist this Center in establishing its headquarters but will also allow it to be firmly planted in downtown South Bend as part of a larger effort of college and community collaboration.”

School officials say Notre Dame is one of 13 Indiana higher education institutions receiving grants from Lilly Endowment through the latest and final round of the funding tied to the College and Community Collaboration initiative, the aim of which is to encourage Indiana's colleges and universities to work more closely with community leaders.

“The Downtown South Bend Tech and Talent Hub will not only enhance Notre Dame’s research capabilities, but also drive significant economic growth and community development in downtown South Bend,” Notre Dame President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., said. “This project exemplifies our commitment to integrating research and innovation with impactful community engagement, fostering both local and regional advancement. We are grateful to Lilly Endowment for its generous support.”

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based, private foundation created in 1937 by J. K. Lilly and his sons, Eli and J.K. Jr., through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company.

“While varied in scope and reach, the proposed initiatives and projects reflect a commitment by stakeholders, inclusive of faculty, staff and students from these institutions, business leaders, government officials, and community leaders, to create vibrant communities where all residents can thrive,” said Jennett M. Hill, president of Lilly Endowment. “The Endowment looks forward to seeing all the projects in the CCC initiative evolve. We are enthusiastic about the prospects for both the institutions and communities and are eager to see these institutions and their community stakeholders collaborate to breathe life into their promising projects.”